Link connection for automotive



June 8, 1937. J. w. LEIGH-oN Re 20,399

LINK CONNECTER FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES y Original Filed April 20, 1933 Reissued June 8, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LINK CONNECTION FOR AUTOMTIVE VEHICLES rial No. 667,015, April` 20, 1933.

for reissue March 18,

Claims.

The principal objects of this invention are to provide a link and joint construction for connecting articulated parts of automotive vehicles which will have extraordinary wearing properties s and will require no adjustments and which will be free from rattles or squeaks.

A further object is to devise a structure which Will be extremely rugged and may be easily and quickly assembled.

A further and important object is to provide a joint structure which will retain its lubrication for an extraordinary period and will require the minimum of attention.

The principal feature of the invention consists in the novel arrangement of a pair of angularlydisposed threaded bearing portions of a link forming an articulated connection between a pair of relatively movable parts and in the arrangement of threaded bearings to engage the said angularly disposed bearing portions of said link to permit the free swinging of said link and relatively movable parts, said link being tensioned tortionally to maintain a pressure contact between the engaging threaded surfaces.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a plan view of a drag link and a portion of the front axle steering arm of a motor vehicle embodying this invention, the bearing connection between the drag link and the main steering arm being shown in section through the line I-I of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 1 with the front end connection between the drag link and the front axle steering arm in Vertical section.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the drag link showing the tortional offset of same.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view through the bearing end of the front axle steering arm through the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

The preferred form of bearing is shown in the connection between the drag link and the front axle steering arm.

The drag link I which is bent longitudinally to conform to the requirement of the particular vehicle it is designed for is formed with a right angularly arranged downwardly projecting stud 2 preferably forged as a solid part of the drag link, and the underside of the drag link surrounding the stud is preferably shaped with a concaved cupped surface 3.

The outer end 4 of the stud is provided with a threaded bearing surface which is suitably hardened.

The front axle steering arm 5 is formed with Application 1937, Serial No. 131,685

a cylindrical end 6 which is threaded from end to end with an internal threaded bearing surface 1.

Al cylindrical block 8 externally threaded to t the threaded orifice I in the end of the axle steering arm is threaded thereinto and the cylindrical end 6 of the axle steering arm is formed with a circular orice 9 in the top side which is of considerably larger diameter than. the threaded portion 4 of the extension 2 of the drag link. The block 8 is provided with a transverse threaded orifice IU, into which the threaded end 4 of the drag link stud extends, the thread of the stud engaging the thread of the block in a snug bearing t.

A lubricating orifice II extends in from one end of the block 8 to the vertical threaded orice Il) and is provided with a suitable lubricant fitting I2.

An orice I3 is preferably cut through the threaded side Wall of the block 8 to convey lubricant to the threaded bearing surface between the block 8 and the threaded orifice 1.

A suitable washer I4 preferably of felt, surrounds the base of the extension 2 and ts snugly between the cupped underside of the drag link and engages the outer surface of the end of the steering wheel arm, thus protecting the threads of the stud extension and block 8 from contact with outside grit or dirt.

The joint thus described is extremely simple, but it is very eicient in use. It permits of a free swinging movement in the plane of the operation of the front axle steering arm on the axis of the threaded stud extension of the drag link, and the block 8 rotates on its axis to permit the slight up and down swinging movement required by the drag link.

This same form of joint may be provided at the other end of the drag link where it is connetted to the main steering arm I4', but I have shown in Figure 1 a slightly different form of construction. The drag link is preferably formed with a flattened section I5 adjacent to its end and is provided with a threaded stud extension IG which projects at right angles therefrom, the axis of the said threaded portion I6 being offset with relation to the axis of the threaded member 4 so that in assembling the` several members a torsional stress will be placed upon the link member resulting in a constant pressure engagement of the engaging bearing surfaces.

A sleeve` Il is threaded into the eye-end I8 of the arm I4 and is provided with a threaded bearing inner surface S to rotatably engage the threaded surface of the stud I6.

It will be seen that the drag link I may swing freely on the threaded bearing supports provided between the stud Iand the sleeve l1 and the flattened portion l5 of the drag link permits a slight ilexure,

I have shown a helical spring l20 arranged between the steering arm I4 and the drag link l to maintain a constant tension on the threaded bearing surfaces, but it is preferable to construct the drag link with a tortional tWist such as is sho-Wn in Figure 3 with the stud I6 set at any offset angle in relation to the axis of the Stud 2 so that when the drag link is assembled in position with the latter extending in a direction transversely of the bearing orifice I there will be a constant pressure engagement `exerted between the threaded surface of the coupling members. This strain will not be sufficient toldetract from the effective strength of the drag link, but will maintain sufficient tension on the threads compensating for wear and preventing any' tendency to rattle and will ensure the contact of the bevelled faces of the threads in all the members at all times. t Y.

What I claim asV my invention is:-

1. In a steering gear connection for automotive vehicles, a link having a threaded bearing extension, an arm to be connected with said link having a threaded orifice, and a member threaded in said orifice having .a threaded bearing orifice to receive in rotative engagement the threaded extension of the link, said link being disposed in a direction transversely of the threaded bearing orifice of said arm and being tensioned tortionally for the purpose of maintaining the respective threaded bearing surfaces of said steering gear members in pressure contact to prevent rattle and compensate for wear.

2. In a steering gear, a link having a rigid right angular extension at the end and a cupshaped surface surrounding said extension, saidextension being externally threaded, an arm having an orifice to receive said link extension and to permit lateral movement therein, a resilient washer encircling said stud vand fitting in said cupped recess and engaging the exterior of the arm surrounding its orifice, a threaded orice extending through said arm in transverse relation to the aforesaid orice, a block threaded in the latter orice in said arm having a transversely disposed threaded orifice intermediate of its length adapted to register with the first-mentioned orifice and receiving in bearing engagement the threaded link extension, .and means for carrying lubricant to the threaded surfaces.

3. In a steering gear connection, a link having a rigid angularly projecting stud formed with a threaded bearing surface, a steering arm having a threaded orifice therein and an orifice leading to the threaded orifice intermediate of its y length of a size to receive the threaded stud and permit lateral movement thereof, a block threaded into the threaded orifice o-f said arm` in rotative bearing engagement, said block having a transverse threaded orifice receiving the threaded stud in rotative bearing engagement, said entire complement of members being retained in' their cooperative assembled vrelation solely by the respective threaded bearing engagements of said block with said link .-and arm, and means cooperating With said linkano. maintaining same under torsional tens-ion to maintain intimate bearing contact and prevent looseness between the respective threaded. bearing surfaces of said link, arm and block.

4. In a vehicle, the combination with parts having a pair of threaded bearing orifices, of a link having angularly arranged threaded extensions adapted to engage said bearing orifices, said link being tensioned tortionally to maintain a pressure contactI between the engaging threaded I' JOHN W YCLIFFE LEIGHTON. 

